# alot vs meli

- alot: Terminal mail reader written in Python that works on a local notmuch database, with tag-based search and threads.
- meli: Terminal email client written in Rust with IMAP, JMAP, notmuch, Maildir, mbox and NNTP backends and TOML configuration.

## Differences

- Only meli has built-in IMAP, SMTP, JMAP and mbox.
- On Windows, alot runs through WSL and meli is not available.
- meli has OAuth2 sign-in; alot does not.
- alot is written in Python; meli in Rust.
- Configuration: alot uses INI-style config file plus optional Python hooks, and meli uses TOML file (config.toml).

## Side by side

| | alot | meli |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Interface | Full-screen terminal interface | Full-screen terminal interface |
| Language | Python | Rust |
| License | GPL 3.0 or later | EUPL 1.2 or GPL 3.0 or later |
| Linux | Native | Native |
| macOS | Native | Native |
| Windows | Through WSL | Not supported |
| BSD | Native | Native |
| Android | Not supported | Not supported |
| IMAP | Through a separate tool | Yes |
| POP3 | Through a separate tool | No |
| SMTP | Through a separate tool | Yes |
| JMAP | No | Yes |
| Maildir | Yes | Yes |
| mbox | No | Yes |
| notmuch | Yes | Yes |
| OpenPGP | Yes | Yes |
| S/MIME | No | No |
| OAuth2 sign-in | No | via script |
| Threads | Yes | Yes |
| Search | notmuch queries | built-in; sqlite3 index by default; notmuch queries |
| HTML mail | via mailcap, e.g. w3m -dump | via filter command, w3m by default |
| Mouse | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Offline use | always; reads a local notmuch database | IMAP header cache in sqlite3; full offline use with Maildir and mbsync |
| Calendar | No | No |
| Contacts | via an external lookup command such as abook, khard or notmuch address | built-in contact list; reads vCard and mutt alias files |
| Vim-style keys | Yes | Yes |
| Configuration | INI-style config file plus optional Python hooks | TOML file (config.toml) |

Pages: [alot](https://terminalemail.com/clients/alot/index.md), [meli](https://terminalemail.com/clients/meli/index.md)